No: 5 / Family: Lestidae / Genus: Indoestes
Name: Indolestes birmanus / Burmese False Spreadwing*
Habitat: Uplands Ponds, Ditches
Province(s) sighted: Nakhon Nayok, Loei, Phitsanulok
In flight: April-December / Sightings (by me): Rare
Province(s) sighted: Nakhon Nayok, Loei, Phitsanulok
In flight: April-December / Sightings (by me): Rare
Easily confused with: Indolestes anomalus, Indolestes gracilis expressior, Indolestes inflatus
*As this species has no common name, I have based it on being location-based 'Burmese' and Lestidae are known as 'Spreadwings'. However, this genus distinctly keeps its wings closed. Therefore, I arrived at 'False Spreadwing' which still tips its hat towards Spreadwings.
A rare and difficult-to-spot damselfly I saw at Phu Kradueng, Loei, this December was Indolestes birmanus. I saw just one female the first time I visited last October and just thought it was an immature L. elatus or similar until it was ID'd by Noppadon Makbun. Oddly, I have visited Phu Kradueng several times and seen this species but it is always brown. Maybe time of year (December)? Fortunately, I have since seen a small number of males at Phu Hin Rong Kla NP and Khao Yai National Park over the years around July and they are blue forms. Do they change colour depending on the time of year?
The Male
The 'blue' male seems is similar to all species in the genus (currently 4 in Thailand) and the easy way to separate them in the field, is through the thoracic markings. The appendages are also unique but difficult to photograph live.
Another 'blue' male spotted at Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Loei (April)
And another at Khao Yai (Nakhon Nayok), May
The colour is quite dull, making them even harder to spot than the blue males. The markings on the thorax seem to have a slight metallic green sheen to them and the end segments are white. I have only ever seen this species like this at Phu Kradueng in Loei. Maybe as it is winter?
Close up early in the morning
Male in the hand
The Female
Very similar to the male, but slightly more robust and not as easily frightened. The females stayed a distance from the water's edge.
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